W-E-L-L NOW...,

 THAT'S DIFFERENT..."

Commitment. A serious word no matter in what context. We expect it in every CEO, supervisor, doctor, policeman, preacher,
teacher; even in auto-mechanics, TV repairmen, cross-guards, in store clerks and other occupations. We certainly expect it in marriage for each spouse. Children expect it of their parents. It can be expected in other close family relationships.

   It should be a natural expectation in our spiritual relationship with the Lord and with His church, the congregation in which we hold  membership. Yet, it is true that in every congregation there are members who have no commitment toward the Lord in its--truest sense. They attend when they want to, when they feel the urge, when they get a spiritual twinge of conscience, or when they feel it. is a religiously "important day" - Christmas or Easter. Brother Luther Blackman, a gospel preacher now gone to be with the Lord, once wrote on this lack of spiritual commitmet. It would do us well to read this brief article entitled:

                                                                                    ". . W-e-L-L Now. That's Different. . ."

D id you ever try to picture what would happen if some eccentric multi-millionaire philanthropist should announce in the local newspaper that one night, durning one of our assemblies (he would not say which one), he would be there and at that time he would give each person
present a brand new "one-thousand dollar bill"?

     Well, I have. And I see in fancy's vision a strange and motley crowd. The rich, the poor, the fat and the frail, Republicans and Democrats would all be there. Also, the scoffers and cynics, and the "God is deaders." The segregationists and the intergrationists would be there; the rich and the infamous. People who haven't spoken to each other for years would sit side by side if necessary. The "once-a-weekers" and the "once-in-a-whilers" would show up every service, I know for sure; and all the backsliders would suddenly get enthusiastic as "church-goers."

     All the puny excuses and anemic alibis - and other kinds of lies we have told ourselves and
  others about why we haven't been faithful would fade out like dirt before "Intensified Tide," or like roaches before "Raid." We would have crowds that would make a convention look like a country picnic - that is, until after the money was passed out. You could look for a slump after that.

     But what kind of a Christian would do for money what he will not do for his love and duty to
  God? - - - - - Luther Blackman

                                                             We Pray for Every Christian to Develope
                                                     a True 100% Commitment for the Lord and for His Church.